Ronald Koeman: I have 'total support' from the Everton board

Ronald Koeman says he has retained the Everton board's backing having met with majority shareholder Farhad Moshiri on Friday, though he accepts his position is dependent on results.

Moshiri, chairman Bill Kenwright and others in the club's hierarchy visited Finch Farm last week to assess recent building work at Everton's training ground and while on site spoke with boss Koeman.

The renovation of Everton's own playing squad looked impressive during their summer spending spree but reality has so far not matched expectation, with two Premier League wins from eight leaving them two points above the relegation zone.

"We spoke about football,'' Koeman said. "There was not really a message but the feeling is that they [Everton's board] are behind the team, they are behind the manager.

"Everybody knows in football that's a nice thing but in football always, finally, it's all about results. Until now it's full, total support from the board, yes.''

Everton face Lyon, Arsenal, Chelsea and Leicester in their next quartet of games.

Asked whether he was four results away from trouble, Koeman said: "Maybe I'm in the crisis?

Ronald Koeman has come under pressure at Everton.

"But everybody knows in football the manager's job is a really difficult job because things change really fast. Most of the time the manager doesn't get time to improve the team. It's football, it's hard to take for the managers, but it's part of the job.''

Everton have had equally poor results in the Europa League and sit bottom of their group after two games, having picked up just a point in fixtures with Atalanta and Apollon Limassol.

Lyon, who themselves have just two points, are the visitors to Goodison Park on Thursday and former Manchester United forward Memphis Depay will make his first return to England since being sold by Jose Mourinho in January.

The 23-year-old's destination then would have been Everton had Koeman got his wish.

"Finally the club Everton didn't get an agreement with Man United,'' he said. "Depay chose to make the move to Lyon. He's still a young player, one of the Dutch talents for the future for the national team.

"He's always dangerous because when he's not really on his level, he has some individual qualities in free kicks, shots from outside the box. He's always a dangerous player that we need to control.

"He didn't play a lot for United. He's still a young player, I like the player. We tried it but we didn't reach an agreement for him.''

James McCarthy (knee) could return on Sunday against Arsenal with Thursday's match coming too soon, while full-back Jonjoe Kenny is a doubt to face Lyon.